Chapter 18 - Who's Xerxes?

  - Helia Pace; Roxana's Room, Evening- Luxana's heart raced with a mix of various plicated emotions. She had always known that the pace ce of deceit and manipution, but the King's as had shattered all those fatherly illusions he pyed yesterday, which she had silently g to hoping for her to finally be embraced by someone, who might one day actually aowledge her. Why did I ever think I could trust him? How Deplorable...she wondered bitterly, her firag to the pocket she had kept her fire dagger in. The memory of the fire dagger pierg the knight's flesh sent a shiver down her spine. I'm er than them, she realized, self-loathing seeping into her thoughts. Luxana curled tighter into herself, trying to find some sembnce of fort, but it eluded her. The silence of the room was deafening, a stark trast to the chaos that raged within her. I am trapped, she thought, trapped in this pace, in this life, with no escape. What do I even want anymore? The question hung heavy in the air, unanswered. She felt like a marioh cut strings, filing helplessly, devoid of purpose. I am nothing, she thought, the realizatioling like a stone iomabsp;The darkness seeped into her soul, squeezing her heart until her breath came in shallos. I wish I could fade away, she thought. Yet the truth remained—she was still here, alive, and the weight of that existence bore down on her. How did it e to this? The question echoed in her mind. Just then, the silence shattered with a sudden *FOOSH*. Luxana jumped, her heart leaping into her throat. Huh? Is that.......the dragon I embedded in my neckbsp;she thought, rising to her feet, only to be awestruck by the figure before her. "'HAH! It’s been 2000 years since I stood on two legs!' the man excimed, his voiing. Before her stood a tall man with shoulder-length blue hair and deep, oic eyes. His skin ale, almost translut, giving him ahereal quality. He wore a long, dark cloak and a silver pendant with a symbols. Despite appearing in his twenties, a timelessness about him sent a shiver down her spine." “I’m Veles. The Dragon you met in the Ented Caverns.” As expected, Luxana thought, letting out a sigh of approval as she looked down, her calm demeanor unshaken. Veles being pissed, brushed his hair back with a fluid motion, his expression a mix of amusement and annoyance. “Am I so unbearable, for you to let out a sigh with absolutely no expression on your face?” he replied, his toeasi challenging. “Oh...deep apologies,” she said, one arm crossed in front defensively, her gaze dropping to the ornate carpet beh her feet, avoiding his pierg stare. A faint flush crept up her cheeks as she felt the heat of embarrassment. Veles stepped closer, his movements fluid and deliberate, like a predator closing in on its prey. He gently tilted her up, f her to meet his gaze. The warmth of his fingers sent an ued jolt through her. What does he think he’s doing? she wondered, feeling a mix of fusion and disfort. “Hmm... as expected of the Dominion blood, it’s still warm after so many years. No wohe beauty is still intact.” Luxana's breath hitg ihroat. Before she could react, a sudden *WOOF!* interrupted the moment. A Lythrope burst into the room, a tall, slender young man with wild, untamed features. His long, dark hair fell in disheveled waves around his face, framing intense, pierg eyes that radiated danger and power. He wore a tattered shirt and jeans, as if he had just sprihrough the woods. The air crackled with energy as he stood there, muscles coiled like a spring, ready to pounce. Without warning, his body torted, bones crag and muscles rippling as thick fur sprouted all over him. Luxana gasped, stepping ba caution. Just then, she felt a geou her shoulders, a sensation that both startled and calmed her. “Don’t worry... we’re here now...” a soothing voice whispered, ing around her like a warm b. Her eyes widened as she turo see a young witch. She was striking, with long, flowing brown hair that cascaded down her back, framing delicate, sharp features. Her pierg emerald eyes sparkled with intelligence, and her fair skin glowed with ahereal quality. There was a quiet fidence about her that atention. Luxana shoved herself away, the Lythrope rushed to the witch's side, leaving Veles unharmed. Who—who're they? she thought, her expression was now full of curiosity and amusement. They exged gnces, a silent versation passiween them, before they sighed in unison, their expressions a mix of relief aermination. *POOF* “Greetings, Yhness,” they said in unison, their voices harmonizing in an eerie yet f way. No way... don’t tell me... they're... Luxana’s thoughts trailled off. But her amusment still remained ignited. “Good to see you again, Princess,” Mylo shot, a pyful smirk dang on his lips, his posture rexed yet ready for a. “We got worried about you since Lady Furia returrembling without you. So we set out to e get you!” My added, her voice ced with , her eyes sing Luxana’s face fns of distress. “But to think, the so-called ‘Dragon of the Dragon Fmes’ was this idiot,” Mylo excimed, making a disgusted face as he gestured toward Veles, his tone lightening the tension in the room. So they know him, Luxana thought, her curiosity piqued as she helped Veles to his feet. “Oh My, shall I take that as a pliment, Mr.Grandpa wolf?” Veles shot back, brushing himself off with a nont air, a hint of a smirk pying at the ers of his mouth. Luxa out a deep sigh, the weight of her situation crashing down on her like a tidal wave. I wonder if they're even thinking of expining to me what's going on here, she pondered, her expression remaining inscrutable. Veles stepped forward, his movements fluid and graceful, like a dancer on a stage. "Ah, yes, the million-dolr question," he said, his voice dripping with sarcasm. "What's going on, you ask?" He paused for dramatic effect, his eyes twinkling with mischief. Veles stepped forward, his movements fluid and graceful, like a dancer on a stage. "Ah, yes, the million-dolr question," he said, his voice dripping with sarcasm. "What's going on, you ask?" He paused for dramatic effect, his eyes twinkling with mischief. Mylo rolled his eyes, crossing his arms over his chest. "This idiot here," he jerked his thumb in Veles' dire, "is the legendary Dragon of the Dragon Fmes, who betrayed his rad came down to the human world. The one and only, in the flesh." He smiled widely, clearly enjoying the moment. My elbowed him in the ribs, earning a yelp from Mylo. "What Mylo means to say is that Veles is a being of immense power and strength, revered by our s for turies." Luxana's brow furrowed in fusion, titling her head. Their s? What do they mean? She pondered. Veles chuckled, his ughter rid deep. "Ah, yes, the Lythrope and the Witch. Two of the most powerful and a bloodlines ience," he decred, gesturing to Mylo and My with a flourish of his hand, his fidence b anbsp;Luxana narrowed her pierg eyes at him. Wait...is this guy reading my mind or what? "Ahahaha, I'm ected to you, Lumi! I feel ahrough your heart and thoughts!" he excimed with a grin, his toeasing and pyful. Lumi? Luxana thought, her expression still cold as ibsp;"Lumi for Luminesce!" he decred, his enthusiasm unwavering. My and Mylo exged looks of disgust while Luxana shot Veles a withering stare, rolling her eyes dramatically. They were all visibly annoyed by his flirtatious antibsp;"Princess, we're not just your average run-of-the-mill panions," Mylo excimed, puffing out his chest as he strode toward Luxana. "We're the desdants of legendary warriors and sorcerers!" Veles stepped closer, his eyes burning with iy as he raised his hand in front of Mylo, halting him in his tracks. He turned his head back to Luxana. "We're here to save you from the darkhat lurks within these pace walls, Lumi. From the very people you call family," he said, his voice dripping with seriousness. Luxa a sudden suspi about him. Moving away from Veles, she reached for My, who stood oher side. Mylo followed suit, and My smiled warmly as she grasped Luxana's hands, fort and support. Luxana's expression remained calm, but there was a flicker of relief and appreciation in her gaze as she aowledged their presenbsp;Narrowing her eyes towards Veles, Luxaantly asked, "I'd like to know about you, Veles." Veles beamed, his eyes glinting with delight. "Ohh My! Is Lumi finally opening up to me, wanting to know me? Aww, how—" "As a Dragon," Luxana interrupted, her tone brooking nument. Veles stood frozen, dumbfounded, his mouth agape. "I want to know you as a Dragon. You're definitely not the one I met in the Caverns," Luxana added, her voice dripping with sarcasm. "AHAHAAHAHAHHAHAHAHA! Our Lumi is so smart!" he excimed, a sly look and a huge grin pstered on his fabsp;Luxana looked at him with narrowed eyes, unimpressed. "I am the Dragon of the Dragon Fmes. But!" he said, raising his index finger dramatically. "I'm just not limited toiquette when I'm in this form! So I am ME when I'm in my human form!" He fshed ane grin, clearly enjoying the banter. "Why are you blue? Isn't red, e, or yellow the color that symbolizes fmes?" Luxana asked, her face still expressionlessly cold. Veles grinned, his fidenshaken. "Don't you know—" "Oh! The hottest part of the Fme," Luxana interrupted, her voice ced with sarcasm. "But how sad, really doesn't suit you at all." Mylo and My burst into ughter at his outburst, and even Luxana couldn't suppress a small giggle. "YOU DID THAT ON PURPOSE, DIDN'T YOU?" Veles shouted, his anger fring, his cheeks tinged with indignation. "My apologies. But..." Luxana strode toward Veles, her left index fioug his lightly as she bent down slightly, iing him as if he were an odd spe. "I don't like people like you," she said with a sly smile, rising back up. "Then, would you please ge yourself while you're at it?" Veles boiled with indignatioing out a huff and crossing his arms, turning his head away in a dramatic dispy of petunbsp;But suddenly, Veles' eyes widened in arm. "Hurry! Hide!" he excimed, diving into Luxana's neckce with a speed that left no room fument. My and Mylo quickly ducked behind the bed, c their mouths to stifle any sound. The echo of footsteps reverberated through the dimly lit corridrowing louder with each passing sed. Luxana turned her head toward the door, her heart rag in anticipation. Suddenly, the door swung open with a resounding *SLAM*, and the Kiered, his expression as cold as the stone walls surrounding them. "Your... Majesty," Luxana stammered, her gaze dropping to the floor, the weight of his presence pressing down on her. The King narrowed his eyes, shutting the door behind him with a deliberate force. He strode toward Luxana, his movements predatrabbing her arm with a grip that felt like iron, he yanked her closer, their faearly toug. "Luxana, have you been well? And how're you powers? Do you feel any pain?" Luxa her father’s gaze, her heart pounding, but her voice remaieady. "Your Majesty, what......are you talking about?" Her eyes narrowed defiantly. "Oh My! Is the Princess so numb?" he replied, a maniacal gleam flickering in his eyes, apanied by a sinister grin that sent chills down her spine. Father...this is...not my father, Luxana thought, her eyes widening in shock. She instinctively shoved herself away from him, a wave of dread washing over her. "Who... are you?" she demanded, her cold stare pierg through the veil of his facade. The Kied into ughter, a sound that eenagly off the stone walls. "AHHAHAHHAHAHAHAHAHHAHAHAAHAAA! Just how e! How are you so different from the other Dominions?" He stepped closer, lifting her with a finger, his face twisted in mock admiration. "What a fool your father is, letting such a beautiful woman be alone. I pity you, Princess." *SLAP* The sound of Luxana’s hand striking his face rang out, sharp and defiant. The King’s head so the side, and he pced a hand on his cheek, rising straight with a maniacal gaze and that same sinister grin. "Xerxes. My name's Xerxes," he said with a mog bow. "I am hoo have met you, Princess." Xerxes? Who's Xerxes? Luxana wondered, fusion swirling in her mind. Just then, a sudden voice filled her thoughts, cutting through the tension like a knife. "Xerxes. He's your aor." It was Veles, the voice both familiar and uling. Luxana's heart raced. Veles, what does he want? "He doesn’t know I’m in your neckce. He only see that you’ve made a pact with me. Just don’t let him touch your neckce." "You see, we’re the same. We are the ones abandoned by our own mothers, mistreated by our fathers, and made fools of by our step-family," Xerxes said, his expression unyielding. "You want to team up?" Luxana's eyes narrowed, suspi creeping into her mind. "Yes," he admitted, his face devoid of emotion. "But... you’re in my fath—" "I just borrowed his body. I’m just a soul who occupy anyone's body, as long as they’ve used bck magibsp;Luxana's eyes widened, shock c through her veins. Bck magic? Father's a victim of bck magic? What does that mean? "I will reveal myself in my true form on the day of your ba. So please, prepare yourself. So then, I shall return this body to your dear father," he said, a sinister smile curling his lips. "Hey, I never agreed to team up with you!" Luxana shouted, but before she could voiother thought, he vanished into thin air, leaving her aloh her rag heart. Before she could process the whirlwind of emotions, a loud otioed outside her room. Luxana rushed out, only to find maids scurrying in every dire, their faces pale with fear. Grabbing one by the arm, she demanded, "What’s going on?" "His Majesty! He has a severe seizure with a high fever!" the maid cried, her voice trembling as she tore away from Luxana's grip. Luxana's eyes widened in disbelief, her mind rag. The reality of the situation crashed over her like a wave. The King was in danger, and the darkhat had just revealed itself was only beginning to unfold.To be tinued...